In The News: Health Care Providers Urged To Expand Use Of E-Med Records

By: Associated Press | WNCT
Published: February 21, 2008

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KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) - People use computers to do everything from pay bills to send correspondence. So why not use them to keep track of medical records. U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt is calling on health care partners in Kansas and Missouri to step-up the use of electronic medical records by physicians. Leavitt says transferring records to electronic files are a first big step in making health care more effective and in cutting costs. Supporters believe e-records can help improve health care since they can make a patient's complete health history available over the Internet. The practice has been adopted so far by some hospitals and physician groups who have been willing to shell out money for software systems. However, some smaller doctors' groups say the price for such technology is too high. Leavitt says HHS is planning a pilot program that would offer economic incentives to small- and medium-sized doctors offices.